Car-coupling.



No. 784,768. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. 0. A. TOWER.

GAR COUPLING. APPLIGATION FILED-DBO. 12, 1904.

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No. 784,768. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. O. A. TOWER.

I OAR COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 12, 1904.

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wrrfizsses mvsuron 27.4. MLJ/fvw UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OEEIeE.

CLINTON A. TOWER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPO- RATI ON.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,768, dated March 14, 1905. Application filed December 12, 1904. gerial No. 236,554.

To all whom, it nutg concern.-

Be it known that I, CLINTON A. TOWER, of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Car-Coupler, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a coupler provided with my improved locking and opening device. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same in unlocking position, and Fig. 8 is a similar View showing it in the position which it occupies when the knuckle is thrown open.

My invention relates to an improvement on the car-coupling described and claimed in a patent, No. 7 28,049, granted to me on May 12, 1902, and it relates particularly to the locking and opening piece; but within the scope of my invention the device may be modified, and it may be applied to the construction of locking and opening pieces adapted for use with couplings other than those shown in the said patent.

In the drawings, 2 is the coupler-head, provided with a knuckle 3, mounted pivotally in the coupler-head by means of a pin 3'. The locking and opening piece 4 to which my invention is applied when in locked position extends vertically in the coupler-head on the front side of the tail of the knuckle, resting at the lower end by means of a heel portion 5 on the floor of the coupler-head and having a toe or downwardly-extending portion 6, which extends through a hole in the floor of the coupler-head. The locking and opening piece 4 not only serves as a lock, but also opens the knuckle if it is raised beyond the point at which the release of the knuckle takes place. Its operation in moving the knuckle open is fully described in my said Patent No. 728,049. The piece 4 is provided with a lifting link or chain 7, and the lock is of such vertical height that when it is in locked position its upper end shall extend under and l preferably be in engagement with the top wall or surface 8 of the coupler-head at the base of the recess 9, in which the piece 4 is adapted to move. This engagement prevents the lock from creeping upwardly during the motion of the train, and thus accidentally releasing the knuckle. At the same time the link 7 also at its forward side engages the wall of the coupler and restrains the piece 4 from dropping forwardly. By thus causing the upper end of the lock to engage the top of the coupler-head and to retain the lock in locked position I effect an important advantage, because it enables me correspondingly to lessen the height of the cou1')ler-head itself. This not only makes a lighter coupler-head, but adapts the coupler-head for use on cars where vertical space must be eeonomized.

I claim 1. In combination with a coupler and knuckle, a locking and opening piece contained in the coupler and adapted when locked to rest with its upper end under the wall of the coupler-head; substantially as described.

2. In combination with a coupler and knuckle, a locking and opening piece contained in the coupler and adapted when locked to rest with its upper end under the wall of the coupler-head at the base of the recess in which the lock moves; substantially as described.

3. In combination with a coupler and knuckle, a locking and opening piece contained in the coupler and adapted when locked to rest with its upper end under the wall of the coupler-head, and a lifting-link which engages the wall of the coupler-head and retains the locking and opening piece; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. CLINTON A. TOWER. W'itnesses:

HENRY F. Porn, HARRY E. ORR. 

